Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of pre-S(2) gene coded polypeptide of hepatitis B virus - correlation of pre-S(2) polypeptide with the receptor for polymerized human serum albumin in sera containing hepatitis B virus surface antigens

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was developed to detect polypeptide coded by the pre-S(2)region of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA with monoclonal antibody in 120 sera containing hepatitis B virus surface antigen particles. Binding sites for polymerized human serum albumin (pHSA) have been found to be encoded by the pre-S(2) region of hepatitis B virus genome. There can be seen a close correlation between the titers of pre-S (2) polypeptide and those of HBV-pHSA receptor (HBV-pAR) (HBV-asymptomatic carrier : r= 0.826, P<0.01, chronic hepatitis : r=0.787, P< 0.01). The titers of pre-S (2) polypeptide of sera from 75 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive carriers (mean±SD) was 92±9 in asymptomatic carrier(ASC), 78±21 in chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH), 66±31 in chronic aggressive hepatitis activity moderate (CAH2A), 44±28 in chronic aggressive hepatitis activity severe (CAH2B), 30±6 in liver cirrhosis (LC), and 21±30 in 15 anti-HBe positive ASC, Under interferon treatment in patient with CAH2B, the titer of pre-S (2) polypeptide as well as HBV-pAR activity was significantly reduced before HBeAg was reduced and the serum transaminase was normalized. These results suggest that the ELISA described for detection of pre-S(2) polypeptide might be useful as a prognostic test for HBV-carriers.